Vacuum pump



Nov. 6, 1923.

A. E. KRICK VACUUM PUMP Filed March 12 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet B Milli? 5 1IH'MH u I I l I I HETHUK f. KE/CK.

6H0: new

Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

ARTHUR E. BRICK, F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

VACUUM PUMP.

Application filed March 12, 1921. Serial No. 451,714.

I To all whom it may concern:

showing the same associat Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. KRICK, a citizenofthe United States, and a resident of Indianapolis, county of Marion,and

State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Vacuum Pump;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which like numerals. refer to like parts.

This invention relates particularly to a vacuum pump construction suchas may be associated with a vacuum system associated with a steamheating system or the like with the advantages resultant therefrom.

The chief object of this invention is to improve the construction ofvacuum pump constructions by associating a combining tube with theejector thereof.

The chief feature of the invention consists in associating with a pumpan ejector and a closed surge tank in an improved manner.

Another feature of the invention consists in associating the vacuum pumpconstruction with a pressure pump, which pump is automaticallycontrolled by the amount of vacuum.

Still a further feature of the invention consists in associating thevacuum pump construction with the vacuum system of a steam heatingsystem in an improved manner whereby a staging efiect is secured.

Another feature of the invention consists in interposing said vacuumpump construction into a heating system ahead of the air. vent means, sothat the latter vents the entire system.

Still a further feature of the invention consists in associating reliefvalve means with the vacuum pump construction, so that only the amountof watenis retained in the system which is necessary to operate theejector and supply the pump.

The full nature of this invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 view of the vacuum pum is a diagrammaticconstruction with a portion of a steam heating system. Fig. 2 is anenlarged central sectional view of the ejector shown in Fig. 1.- Fig. 3is a diagrammatic view of another arrangement of the vacuum pumpconstruction and a difl'erent association with a steam heating system.Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of a modified form of theinvention. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of an air eliminator.

In the drawings there is shown a vacuum accumulator 1O suitablyconnected to a return line 11 from a heating or similar steam pressuresystem. Said return line 11 is provided with the usual drain valve means12, control valve 13 and suitable straining means 14, as well as thecheck valve 15. To secure proper drainage in a steamy heating system asuitable vacuum ejector is provided to increase the efiiciency of theheating system. While the invention is herein shown associated with aheating system it is to be understood that the use of the same is notrestricted thereto but may be otherwise aplied. Associated with thereturn line 11 1s a suitable boiler return 16 connected by means of theconduit 17 to the vacuum pump construction. Said boiler return 16 and 17includes the vent 18 associated with the air eliminator 19, which may beof the usual or preferred construction, see Fig. 5, and may contain afloat operated valve controlling the discharge of air from the boilerreturn'line, said air eliminator being connected to said line by meansof the equalizer conduit 20. A suitable valve 21 is provided near thejunction of the conduit 17 with the discharge line 22 and in said line22 is a similar valve 23 which controls the discharge of fluid from theline 22 to a tank and return trap system herein not shown. When thevalve 23 is closed and the valve 21 is open the fluid is discharged intothe conduit 17 and boiler return conduit 16.

The return from the heating system or other similar system 11 connectswith the vacuum pump construction by means of the conduit 24 and thedischarge conduit 22 also connect with said system. The vacuum pumpconstruction comprises an ejector herein indicated by the numeral 25,connected by means of the conduit 26 with the discharge outlet of thepump 27 The intake of the pump'27 is connected by means of the conduit28 to the lowermost point of a closed surge tank 29. The surge tank 29in Fig. 1 is provided with two other openings, one of which is adaptedto receive an elongated discharge pipe 30, which extends into said surgetank to a level below the other openofi'set combining connects with theconduit 22. The other end of the conduit 30 is connected to thedischarge end of the ejector 25 by means of an tu'be such as twoopposite Us 31 which provide an offset in the discharge channel from theejector 25to the surge tank 29. This offset construction acts as a checkor-baflie and serves to combine the circulating fluid and the ejectedfluid through the conduit 24, and thereby permits the pump to operatemore effectively by reason of the staging effect secured by the use ofsaid check and a closed tank. Means for operating the pump 27 comprisesan electric motor 35 which motor is energized by means of the wires 36controlled by suitable switch means. The wires 36 are provided with amain switch 37 and a control switch 38, which control switch includes arelay, as shown. The relay 38 is magnetically operated and the controlcircuit is herein shown connected with the supply mains and a suitableswitch 39, having a movable contact 40 and a fixed contact 41, whichcontrols the remote control circuit. The switch 39 is provided with therojection 42 with which is associated a ever 43, operated by a diaphragm44 in communication with a vacuum accumulator by means of the conduit45. Thus, when the vacuum is decreased by means of the accumulation ofthe condensate of the heating system, said decrease is adapted toregister on the diaphragm and tilt the lever 43 to close the switch 39,which in turn actuates the relay to close the switch 38 and, therefore,the motor circuit. The motor 35 is thus energized and operates the pump27. The um 27 takes fluid from the closed surge tank 29 and circulatesthe same through the pump 27, conduit 2& and through the ejector 25 andthe oflt'set or baflied conduit 30 until said fluid again dischargesinto the surge tank. The vacuum pump construction thus is adapted todraw fluid automatically such as the condensate and air from the line 11and eject the same into the tank associated with the discharge conduit22. Other automatic arrangements may be provided but each includes asource of pressure and vacuum controlled operating means.

One typeof the ejector is shown clearly in Fig. 2. The ejector 25 isprovided with an inlet nozzle 50 and an annular chamber 51 into whichsaid nozzle projects. The chamber 51 is provided with an end wall orpartition 52 and upon the opposite side of the partition 52 is anannular chamber 53, which annular chamber is provided with a restrictedmouth 54, which communicates with the conduit 30, or L 31. Herein thechamber 51 and 53 are shown in communication with each other by means ofa tubular tapering nozzle or venturi construction which preferably isintegral with the partition 52.

navaeve Said venturi construction discharge includes the widest portion154 which extends into the chamber 53 and terminates adjacent and only ashort distance from the outlet 54 of said chamber 53. The opposite end55 of said venturi passage extends in an opposite direction and intoclose proximity to the inwardly extending tapered nozzle 50. It is to beunderstood that the nozzle 50 anddischarge portions 55 and 54 constitutea venturi construction which is open to the annular chamber 51 at onepoint of its smallest cross sectional area. The conduit 24 alsodischarges into the chamber 51 and in such a manner that the .force ofsaid discharge is broken by the tubular venturi construction and thefluid drawn into said passage 154 and 55 collects in the chamber 51 andis sucked into the venturi passage 55 by the jet action of the fluidforced through the conduit 26 and nozzle 50 into the venturi channel 55by the pump 27. It is to be noted that as illustrated in Fig. 1 thelower end of the conduit 30 is provided with a water seal in the closedsurge tank, as shown.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings a modified and the preferred form of theinvention is illustrated and in said invention there is shown the usualaccessories associated with the heating system and the operating meanssuch as motor 35, said motor being supplied with energy from the lines36, all as hereinbefore described in the preceding paragraphs. In Fig. 3the identical parts are similarly numbered. In said figure the vacuumpump construction is connected to the heating system by means of theusual intake 121 which is associated with the ejector 25, the detailedconstruction of which is shown clearly in Fig. 2. The ejector is rovidedwith another intake which supp ies pressure to the ejector, and saidintake is indicated by the numeral 117. The ejector 25 is provided withcombining tube means 131 which discharges into a sealing tube ure. Theconduit 126 connects the pump 27, driven by the motor 35, with theconduit 117 and said pump is also connected with the surge tank at thebottom thereof. The

connections hereinbefore described are slightly difl'erent from thatdescribed with re erence to Fig. 1 and in addition to these difl'erencesit is to be noted that the surge tank 129 is now of a closedconstruction and communicating therewith is a pair of conduits 120 and116 which communicate with the air eliminator 119 rovided with an airvent 118, which air e iminator inay be of the usual or any preferredconstruction. Such an ejector is shown in Fi 5 wherein the housing 119contains per orated, baffiing partition 201, a valve 202, a lever 203controlling the same and a float 204 operable by the liquid level u saidair eliminator.

130, shown dotted in said fig- Thus, when the liquid level falls, due tothe accumulation of air in the air eliminator 119, the float 204 followssaid liquid level and thereupon through the lever 203 opens the valve205 so that air in the housing is permitted to escape 'to the atmospherethrough the vent 118.

The aforesaid construction \also differs from that shown in Fig. 1 bythe addition of a relief valve means 123 which is interposed in adischarge, or if desired a boiler return line 122 which line also isprovided with a check valve 124. The relief valve 123 is provided with aby-pass construction 128 controlled by a valve 127 and said reliefvalve'operates in the usual manner.

In Fig. 4 the construction illustrated in Fig. 3 is duplicated, but therelief valve construction is otherwise connected to the system. Hereinthe relief valve construction 223 is connected directly by means of aconduit 228 to the surge tank 129 and said connection is controlled bymeans of the valve 227. The last mentioned connection provides for moresensitive operation since the surge tank pressure and the pump pressure27 is the determining factor controlling the operation of the reliefvalve.

In the two last mentioned modifications of the invention better resultshave been obtained than from the constructionshown in Fig. 1. Theoperation of these modifications are substantially similar.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is as follows: As thecondensate forms and accumulates in the heating system or the like, thevacuum decreases and the gauge on the tank 10 registers the vacuum aswell as the diaphragm 44, which as heretofore explained, energizes themotor 35 to operate the pump 27 when the desired limit of the, vacuum isreached. The system shown in Fig. 3'is such that suflicient water isheld in th tank 129, and only such an amount necessary to operate theejector 25 is retained therein. As the ejector is operated by the pump,the same pulls on the line 11 and removes the air accumulated therein,as well as the condensate. Both are collected in the tank 129 from whichthe air escapes to theair relief valve119, from which it is dischargedautomatically as the same is collected, as heretofore described.

The condensate is retained in the tank, and

due to the closed tank construction the staging effect is secured; or inother words, the pump head is increased, thereby increasing the pressureboth in the line 126 and the tank 129. In the system shown in Fig. 3 theincreased pressure through theconnections 127-428 is transmitted to therelief valve 123, which is operated,by the rise in pressure when thepressure limit is attained. The pump then not only operates the ejectorbut also discharges the requisite amount 0 condensate necessary torelieve the surge tank, and this by way of'the pipe 122 to a waste line,or to the boiler return, or the feed water heater, as desired. Therelief valve 123 closes the line 122 when the pres,- sure is reduced tothat necessary to actuate said valve, and this pressure limit is soadjusted that only sufficient condensate necessary to operate theejector is retained in the closed surge tank 129. In the modificationshown in Fig. 4 the same effect is secured, for line 228 is subject totank pressure instead of pump pressure, as described .for the apparatusshown in Fig. 3. Of course, the tank pressure and the pump pressure bearcertain relation to each other, so that one system is substantially thesame as the other. 7

While the invention has been described in great detail, and severalmodifications have been described herein, it will be understood thatvarious other modifications thereof will readily suggest themselves tothose skilled in the art to which this invention applies, and theforegoing specifications and drawings are to be considered illustrativerather than restrictive in character. I

The invention claimed is:

1. A vacuum pump construction including an ejector, a closed surge tank,pressure means for operating said ejector, intake and discharge meansconnected with said vacuum ump construction, and pressure responsivemeans 0 erable by the contents contained in the intake for automaticallycontrolling the operation of the pressure means to maintain the contentsin said intake at a predetermined condition.

2. A vacuum construction for a steam heating system, including an aireliminator and a vacuum pump construction, said pump constructionincluding an ejector, a surge tank, a ressure means suitably connectedto said e ector and surge tank to provide a circulatory system, andmeans operable by the fluid conditions in said heatng system forautomatically controlling the operation of said pressure means.

3. In a vacuum pump construction includmg an intake and a discharge thecom bination of electric motor means, means for supplying energy to saidmotor means, switch means controlling said energy su ply, and means inthe intake and operable by the condition of the contents therein forcontrolling said switch means to automatically control the supply ofenergy to said motor means, and a vacuum ump construction including apump operable by said motor means, an ejector, and a surge tank.

4. An ejector for a vacuum pump comprising a pair of chambers separatedfrom each other, a nozzle extending into one chambe and terminatingwithin the same,

a tubular passage extending from one chamber to the other and extendinginto both, one end of said passage termnating adjacent the nozzle but inspaced relation thereto, the other end of said passage extending withinand terminating within the other associated with the source of pressurefor operating the ejector, said first mentioned chamber 'taperinglyconverging toward the nozzle, said other chamber taperingly c0n-,

verging toward the discharge opening to form a restricted mouth.

5. A vacuum ump construction including a surge tan an ejectordischarging therein, a source of pressure for operating said ejector,relief valve means associate with the discharge means of said pumpconstruction, combining tube means lnterposed between the ejector andsurge tank, and a fluid seal between said tube means and said tank.

6. A vacuum pump construction including a surge tank, an ejectordischarging therein, a source of pressure for operating said e'ectdr,relief valve means directly connecte with the surge tank, combining tubemeans interposed between the ejector and surge tank, and a fluid sealbetween said tube means and said tank.

7. A vacuum pump construction including a surge tank, an ejectordischarging therein, a source of pressure ,for operating I said ejector,relief valve means associated with the discharge means ofsaid pumpconstruction, and an air eliminator means directly connected to thesurge tank for venting the latter.

8. A vacuum pump construction including a surge tank, an ejectordischarging therein, a source of pressure for operating said ejector,relief valve means directly connected with the surge tank, and an aireliminator means direct y connected to the surge tank for venting thelatter.

9. A vacuum pump construction including a surge tank, an ejectordischarging therein, a source of pressure for operatin saide'ector,,relief valve means associated with t e discharge means of said pumpconstruction, combining tube means interposed between the ejector andsurge tank, and an air eliminator means directly connected to the surgetank for venting the latter.

10. A vacuum pump construction including a surge tan an ejectordischarging therein, a source of ressure for operating said ejector,relief va ve means directly connected with the surge tank, combiningtube means interposed between the ejector and surge tank, and an aireliminator means directly connected to a surge tank for venting thelatter.

11. A vacuum lpump construction including a surge tan an ejectordischarging therein, a source of pressure for operating said ejector,and air eliminating means having its inlet and outlet connected directlyto the surge tank for venting the same.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

THUR E. KRICK.

